Social Engineering: Manipulating People, Not Systems

Unlike traditional hacking methods that exploit technical vulnerabilities, social engineering relies on psychological manipulation to trick individuals into divulging confidential information or performing harmful actions.

Common social engineering tactics include:

Pretexting: Creating a fabricated scenario to gain trust and extract information.

Baiting: Luring victims into downloading malware by offering something desirable (e.g., free software, fake giveaways).

Tailgating: Physically following an authorized person into a restricted area to gain unauthorized access.

To prevent social engineering attacks, individuals should be cautious when sharing personal information and always verify the identity of those requesting sensitive data.